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Chair outlines library budget cuts to offset $26,000 wage-driven increase
Summary
Lincoln County officials adjusted the library budget to absorb about $26,000 in higher personnel costs, keeping some services while trimming repair, technology and interlibrary loan line items; staff will deliver an updated budget sheet once state mill valuations are final.
Lincoln County officials spent the first portion of the meeting reconciling the library’s proposed budget after an updated employee wage worksheet showed a roughly $26,000 increase in wages and benefits. The chair said the wage and insurance changes left little room to reduce personnel costs and asked staff to identify savings in repairs, supplies and operating lines.
The chair said HVAC work earlier in the year addressed a major need and that multiple inspections found no reason to replace the roof, noting, “there's no reason to replace that roof.” Staff reported about $15,000 in maintenance spending year-to-date and indicated the repairs and maintenance line—budgeted at $16,000 in the proposed plan—was largely expended.
Contracted cleaning costs varied by branch. The chair cited a $1,000-a-month baseline for cleaning contracts countywide and said the Libby contract is about $872 per month; Troy currently has no cleaning contract and is relying on staff to perform custodial duties, which the chair called “not fair.” Officials accepted that adding cleaning contracts could require a budget increase.
To balance the higher personnel costs, the group recorded several line-item adjustments. Agreed changes recorded by staff included: office supplies $2,000; technology $12,000 (down from a $15,000 proposal but not lower than staff recommended); operating supplies $3,000; recreation supplies $5,000; education materials $24,000 to restore prior cuts (including large-print and audiobook purchases); communications/interlibrary loan $3,000 (down from a preferred $4,000, which staff warned would reduce countywide loan service); publicity and subscriptions $25,000; utilities $25,000 to reflect year-to-date spending; repairs and maintenance $16,000; travel $5,500; training and insurance to remain as proposed; and a $1,000 transfer to depreciation.
The chair emphasized uncertainty about final revenue projections because the county has not yet received the state’s official mill valuation. Staff was directed to produce an updated budget sheet with the recorded changes for further review once the mill value is known.
